A rant: Technology and Vendors in the Schools, anyone else hate it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate computer programs. I want textbooks and homework on paper.

Amen, I don’t know when textbooks were phased out but every year I am disappointed there are none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People ask why we homeschool….

Nobody has ever asked that because y’all never shut up about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google Class, Blackboard, StudentVue, Canvas, Schoology, e-HallPass, kids needing computers every day as early as what, 2nd grade and having to lug them to and fro everyday? Kahoot, all the other dumb online learning programs and supplemental digital resources and constant need for screens, screens, screens. This is insane to me.

And vendors in general - Baroody Camps for after school activities, the international trips through that one company. Myschoolbucks. It all just seems like a massive cash grab. My kids' handwriting is terrible, I found out they don't even do handwriting in 4th grade and the teacher said it's not a focus because it's a distraction from learning and thus the computers, especially due to COVID, they don't seem to learn much as is... if this is one of the best school districts in the country (I don't buy that), what is going on?

I am an involved parent, kids spread across three schools in the district, and it's just insane. The constant changing platforms, needing to go to this webpage and that to sign kids up for different things, the barrage of emails from each school, the district, the board members. A little information hidden here and there, then the need to check Schoology and StudentVue on a regular basis. I just feel like I'm getting squeezed all the time for money, time, attention. I don't frankly care that a school board member said R*tard, I don't need 4 different emails about it from the same school district actively suppressing academic achievement for excellent students. And I just feel like I have to supplement everything at home, and not just reinforcing with homework (which they rarely have). It just feels like what is the point?! Who supports this stupidity?

My wife's family is in Colombia. Their education system is way more simple, way less reliant on technology, and the kids there are lightyears ahead of my kids and their friends. Handwriting, understanding, ability to pay attention to complex subjects, just general demeanor, it's crazy. Of course, the kids are actually accountable, the kids and parents feel some level of shame for poor performance, and the teachers focus on teaching, not politics. Naturally, the American way is slowly seeping into the school system over there, I am hearing that holding kids back might go away or become more controversial. RIP. Colombians regularly call their country "third world" but they seem to do better and the kids manage to learn more with less for now.

None of this seems good for the kids, but it sure is good for everyone that gets to take a bite out of the massive budget FCPS has. My school experience in the 90s was way better than this, way more simple and yet I feel like my classmates and I were more capable without all this garbage. I recall completing page long writing prompts in second grade, I can't even imagine that now. if only I knew how bad we had it back then and how uneducated we were!

Rant over.

And yet, the PISA ranking of Colombia is 61, and the US is 25. Yeah we’re no Singapore, but I’m not believing these kids are light-years ahead unless they go to a little fancy private school.

When he said that Columbia was better than Fairfax County, I laughed out loud.

Except he didn't say Columbia. He said Colombia.

[Anonymous]

1 - we have been in a school system that we had to pay the fees for MSB. this is way better. no doubt it reduces the overhead of all the payments and stops loss of cash.
2 - after school activities AT SCHOOL are amazing. AMAZING.
3 - uhhh how do I get my school to do an international trip?!?!
4 - my hall pass is dumb. schoology is dumb. etc.
5 - I absolutely despise that the schools don't use LOCAL vendors for spirit wear. also that shipping sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel you. I so feel you.

+2
Totally agree, OP. I grew up going to FCPS and the difference between then and now is like night and day. The overreliance on computers (this starts in first grade) boggles my mind. The kids get a miniscule amount of time to actually learn how to write. Most of "language arts" is spent online, doing those stupid games/"reading" dumbed-down e-books. Same with math - online activities that aren't really teaching anything other than how to use a computer.

It all makes me very depressed if I think too long about it. Wondering what school will be like when I eventually have grandkids. Maybe there will be a revolution of sorts before then, with schools going back to basics. I can only hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate computer programs. I want textbooks and homework on paper.

Amen, I don’t know when textbooks were phased out but every year I am disappointed there are none.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People ask why we homeschool….

Nobody has ever asked that because y’all never shut up about it.

And they know the reason - because you’re a religious freak and scared of public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel you. I so feel you.

+2
Totally agree, OP. I grew up going to FCPS and the difference between then and now is like night and day. The overreliance on computers (this starts in first grade) boggles my mind. The kids get a miniscule amount of time to actually learn how to write. Most of "language arts" is spent online, doing those stupid games/"reading" dumbed-down e-books. Same with math - online activities that aren't really teaching anything other than how to use a computer.

It all makes me very depressed if I think too long about it. Wondering what school will be like when I eventually have grandkids. Maybe there will be a revolution of sorts before then, with schools going back to basics. I can only hope.

I also grew up here and I’m sure it’s not an FCPS only issue with the screens but it’s not good. I wish there were textbooks. I don’t care so much about handwriting - it’s actually not all that necessary now and I’d be fine with using computers for word processing but all the videos and online games I don’t like. So I do agree with a lot of what OP says.

Some of what you complain about though OP is just a sign of the times. You have kids at three different schools, yes, you are going to get a ton of email and sign ups and things are going to be through different online accounts, like everything else in our lives like medical offices. It can be very overwhelming and time consuming but I think that’s part of our broader society.

I don’t understand your gripe about the intl trip or outside vendors for afterschool activities, those are totally optional things that the pta may be organizing because of parent interest. I probably wouldn’t do the intl trip either for various reasons but I think it’s great if they offer it.

[Anonymous]

OP lost me at handwriting. Seriously? Next you are going to complain they don't teach kids how to darn their socks.

We want them to be comfortable with technology because technology is the future. Handwriting is dead. I am glad for enrichment activities that the school provides out of the common core whether it's trips, or art or STEM.

You want Handwriting? Geeze

[Anonymous]

I found it amusing that my special Ed preschooler was sent home with an iPad. I didn’t realize kids that young were given a tablet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP lost me at handwriting. Seriously? Next you are going to complain they don't teach kids how to darn their socks.

We want them to be comfortable with technology because technology is the future. Handwriting is dead. I am glad for enrichment activities that the school provides out of the common core whether it's trips, or art or STEM.

You want Handwriting? Geeze

Handwriting is dead? Really?

Have you been to the Archives? Have you taken your kids there?

[Anonymous]

What the heck would my kid be doing for 1/3 of ELA and Math if they were not using Lexia and Dreambox? There is such a wide range of needs in his class that those programs have been a blessing because he can work at his own pace and do challenging, interesting work instead of listen to a lesson on something he has already learned.

Yes, I would rather deal with MySchoolBucks and Baroody than have enrichment be some half-baked plan by a well meaning PTA mom or try to get a refund from the technology illiterate school secretary.

My only complaint is that some of the technology is creating MORE work for teachers. I wish they would invest in technology that helped teachers minimize their administrative load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the heck would my kid be doing for 1/3 of ELA and Math if they were not using Lexia and Dreambox? There is such a wide range of needs in his class that those programs have been a blessing because he can work at his own pace and do challenging, interesting work instead of listen to a lesson on something he has already learned.

Yes, I would rather deal with MySchoolBucks and Baroody than have enrichment be some half-baked plan by a well meaning PTA mom or try to get a refund from the technology illiterate school secretary.

My only complaint is that some of the technology is creating MORE work for teachers. I wish they would invest in technology that helped teachers minimize their administrative load.

Yes. We are being pressured to meet the Lexia minutes and deliver lessons in small group based on Lexia data.

We don’t use dreambox. ST math but not required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the heck would my kid be doing for 1/3 of ELA and Math if they were not using Lexia and Dreambox? There is such a wide range of needs in his class that those programs have been a blessing because he can work at his own pace and do challenging, interesting work instead of listen to a lesson on something he has already learned.

Yes, I would rather deal with MySchoolBucks and Baroody than have enrichment be some half-baked plan by a well meaning PTA mom or try to get a refund from the technology illiterate school secretary.

My only complaint is that some of the technology is creating MORE work for teachers. I wish they would invest in technology that helped teachers minimize their administrative load.

Are you serious? Reading a book, doodling, daydreaming would be better for the kids who are ahead than getting stuck on Lexia, Dreambox, ST Math.

Poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What the heck would my kid be doing for 1/3 of ELA and Math if they were not using Lexia and Dreambox? There is such a wide range of needs in his class that those programs have been a blessing because he can work at his own pace and do challenging, interesting work instead of listen to a lesson on something he has already learned.

Yes, I would rather deal with MySchoolBucks and Baroody than have enrichment be some half-baked plan by a well meaning PTA mom or try to get a refund from the technology illiterate school secretary.

My only complaint is that some of the technology is creating MORE work for teachers. I wish they would invest in technology that helped teachers minimize their administrative load.

Are you serious? Reading a book, doodling, daydreaming would be better for the kids who are ahead than getting stuck on Lexia, Dreambox, ST Math.

Poor kids.

Many can’t even do those things. Nothing to do? Talk and be disruptive! These computer systems are a classroom management tool.